English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Un_. Come away, Cosen; Sir _Richard's_ come and calls for you; the
Coachman is ready to mount. Noble Sir _Richard_, because you may not
loose breath, you may call me a Captaine, please you, a Captaine o' the
train'd band.
_Sis_. 'Tis very certaine.
_Sir Fr_. I congratulate your title, Sir.
_Un_. If you come into the Countrey you shall see me doe as much with my
leading staff as another.
_Sir Fr_. You wonot thrash your men?
_Un_. If I did 'tis not the first time I ha thrash'd. If I find my
Souldiers tractable they shall find me but a reasonable Captaine.
_Enter Sir Richard [and] Lady_.
_Sir Rich_. Sir _Francis_, I am sorrie the violence of my affaires wonot
let me entertaine you to my wishes. Pray honour us with your presence in
the Countrey, if you can dispence with your employments, when I shall
satisfie for this haste of my departure.
_Sir Fr_. I shall attend you, Sir, and present a kinsman of mine to this
virgin Ladie: he is like to be Master of no narrow fortune. It was my
busines at this tyme only to prepare his accesse.
_Sir Rich_. He shall have my vote for your sake, Sir _Francis_. Come,
Madam.
_Sir Fr_. Ile waite upon you to the Coach and take my leave.
_Un_. Sweet Mistresse _Doritye_.
[_Exeunt_.
_Act the Second_.
_Enter Captaine Sackburie, reading a Letter, and Thomas_.
_Capt_. Hum--hum--Where's the gold?
_Tho_. Here, Sir; one, two, three, fowre, and five.
_Cap_. Thou hast learnd the Cinque pace[235], _Tho_: is the gold weight?
_Tho_. I hope so, Sir.
_Cap_. Hum--into the Country;--thou hast a horse, too?
_Tho_. Not about me, Sir, but he is ready, all but brideling and
sadling, at our Inne, Captaine. My master sayes you shalbe troubled with
no horse but his.
_Cap_. Why, is he lame?
_Tho_. What? _Truehunt_, the black nag with three white feete? he lame?
You meane that I ride upon my selfe.
_Cap_. Hum,--'make hast as you will preserve the reputation of your true
friend and servant:'--so, so--Comend me to him, _Thomas_; I wonot faile
to visit him.
_Tho_. You may demand the Nag, if you ask for _Humfrey_ the Ostler, by
the same token he has bin there this foure dayes and had but one peck of
provender.
_Cap_. Enough I wonot faile, I say. Farewell, honest _Tom a
Lincolne_, farewell: comend me to the traind band.
_Tho_. Pray doe not fall a drinking and forgett it: bu'oy[236], noble
Captaine.
[_Exit_.
_Enter Mr. Courtwell_.
_Cap_. My expectation of the Lawz well mett!
_Cou_. I am glad to see you, Captaine.
_Cap_. Is thy sight perfect?
Thy poring upon statutes and booke cases
Makes me suspecte. But dost thou thinke to bee
A Dominus factotum on the Bench,
And be a Civill Lawyer?
_Cou_. You are merry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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